September 20, 2008

Child safety is vital
I have seen many families who allow their children to sit in the passenger seat without a seat belt. Where is the emphasis on safety here? This is a plea to the authorities to disallow such parents from travelling without precautionary measures. I suggest such people be fined. If the car stops suddenly, the innocent child might get injured. I am a parent, too, and know that the safety of my child is extremely important.
From Ms Urmilla
Dubai
Full name withheld by request

Wrong delivery
A local water company continues to deliver water to my apartment, even though I am not a client of theirs. Every Saturday, at 9pm, they are at my doorstep. The next day, I usually lodge a complaint with their head office, but to no avail. I do not understand if this is a case of ignorance, but if someone does not order something, it should not be delivered to him or her.
From Mr David D.
Dubai

Abandoned pets
Every day in the newspapers, I see pictures of cute little abandoned pets that do not have a home. I have already bought three puppies and feel that more people should follow suit. Give it a chance - go and see the pets. I am sure you would want to take them home, too.
From Ms Akanksha Gupta
Dubai

Mobile disruption
I am tired of inconsiderate people who do not switch off their mobile phones while travelling by air, despite constant reminders and warnings from the cabin crew. Drastic measures need to be taken. I think airlines should demand the surrender of all mobile phones before boarding the plane. I would not mind handing my phone over before take off, if it means having a safer journey.
From Mr Lyndon Travasso
Abu Dhabi

Sleepless nights
The construction work never seems to stop. Is a peaceful night's sleep only possible in the middle of a desert? The noise made by construction equipment, workers screaming at each other, delivery trucks hooting, hammering, scaffolding being dropped and the constant beeping of the tractor's reverse gear contributes to my insomnia. Though the authorities are clamping down on construction work after sunset, I would like to see the same being implemented in my area.
From Mr Hannes V. D. Merwe
Dubai

Vanished in a puff
It is nice to see the 'no smoking' rule being implemented by most organisations, across the UAE. A few days ago, my family and I went bowling and were happy to find no smokers on the premises. My children could play comfortably, too.
From Ms Minda V.
Dubai

Over-charged
I needed to remit some money to a Dubai-based bank, for which I went to their branch in Abu Dhabi. I was astonished to see a charge of Dh55 being levied for the transaction. Since it was a local transfer, I felt the transaction was very expensive. I wonder why banks are allowed to charge such high service fees. Had I got the time, I would have driven to Dubai and personally handed over the money to the bank. It would have been less expensive.
From Mr Shabir Zain Al Deen
Abu Dhabi

Better suggestion
I understand that traffic has created a lot of problems in Dubai and Sharjah, but I do not understand the role toll gates play in helping the situation. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) should be concentrating on improving the public transportation and widening the roads, to improve traffic flow, rather than launching more Salik toll gates.
From Mr Mayank Agrawal
Dubai

Humble request
It is a nightmare to commute between Sharjah and Dubai, every day. We wake up at 5am and end up sleeping around midnight. It is even harder to commute considering the lack of sleep. I request the authorities to find a solution to the current traffic situation.
From Mr S. T. Hasnain
Dubai

Fraudulent claims
I was shocked to read newspaper reports that banks are reimbursing their customers, in light of the recent Automated Teller Machine (ATM) fraud ("Readers express shock over bank card fraud", Gulf News, September 12). I am one of those people who have lost money and am currently penniless. Neither has the bank contacted me nor have I received any reimbursement. The bank I have an account with advised me that it would take four to six weeks for an investigation!
From Mr Thanu Jose
Dubai

Arrogant drivers
A few days ago, I had a bad experience, while driving on a bridge, when a vehicle cut in front of me without using the indicator. We had a near collision, following which the driver stopped his car next to mine and yelled out an expletive. He did this in response to my query as to why he had not used the indicator. It is really disappointing and a shame to see such arrogant and uncivilised motorists on UAE roads.
From A Reader
Dubai
Name withheld by request

Tighter security
Automated Teller Machine (ATM) frauds are becoming quite common these days. I would like to suggest a cubicle be constructed in a manner that it surrounds the ATM. By this, no one else would be able to see the transactions taking place. The machines should be constantly supervised for suspicious activity. A six-digit password should be allocated to customers, as this would make it harder for hackers to decode. I believe cameras are already installed, but tighter security is necessary.
From Ms Ameenah Al Haddad
Dubai

Worldwide issue
I read a recent report about Pakistani women who face physical abuse at home ("Domestic violence is rarely talked about in Pakistan", Gulf News, September 13). I would like to add that it is not just women living in Pakistan that deal with domestic violence. Women all over the world face this problem, either by their husbands, in-laws or by the society in which they reside.
From A Reader
Dubai
Name withheld by request